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Floridaâs new Ethics in Education Act goes into effect tomorrow and it may force school districts to fire longtime employees. The law requires school districts to check the criminal records of teachers and other employees who are in contact with students. Employees who have been convicted of a felony in certain crimes may be disqualified for employment under the law.

The Ethics in Education Act was co-sponsored by panhandle Republican Sen. Don Gaetz. Gaetz is a member of the Senate's Edu...

Former University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian was formally arraigned today in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia. Thursday Al-Arian was charged with two counts of contempt of court, stemming from his refusal to testify before a Virginia grand jury.

Al-Arianâs daughter, freelance journalist Laila Al-Arian, was at Mondayâs arraignment in Alexandria, and said the judge is considering releasing Dr. Al-Arian on bond while he is awaiting trial on contempt charges....

Our guests were Ed Reynolds, a local bio-diesel home-brew specialist, and Lyle Estill, author of Small is Possible and founder of Piedmont Biofuels Co-op in North Carolina. Both guests were on the entire program. Lyle stressed the importance of the sustainble aspects of small operations like his, and living in a local sustainable oriented community.

Friday was the deadline for candidates to qualify to be on the ballot for this fallâs elections. Denise Layne is a Democratic candidate running for Hillsborough County Commission, District 6, the seat currently held by Republican Brian Blair.

WMNF asked Layne why she is running. She faces two democrats, Kevin Beckner and Joe Redner, in the primary election. The winner will face either incumbent Brian Blair or his Republican primary opponent, Don Kruse.

Former USF professor Dr. Sami Al-Arian, who has completed his sentence and was awaiting deportation, was indicted Thursday on two counts of contempt of court in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Dr. Al-Arian was tried in Tampa in 2005 and found not guilty of eight charges.

Al-Arian signed a plea agreement in 2006 under government threats of a second trial. He pled guilty to one count of assisting associates of a terrorist group with nonviolent activities. His sentence was supposed to ...

Thanks to community action and University of South Florida archaeologists and anthropology students, a state treasure built by some of Pinellas Countyâs earliest residents, the Tocobaga Indians, is being assured of its legacy.

The Pinellas Mound is an ancient Native American temple mound built over a thousand years ago. This morning community leaders, archaeologists and anthropology students, neighbors and friends took the final step in protecting the site by planting native Florida pla...

Sid Goetz, a former president of the South Pinellas County Chapter of Americans United For Separation of Church and State, died Monday at age 94.

Goetz had enjoyed a successful career as an attorney in Long Island, New York before retiring to Florida in 1981. He taught at Stetson Law School and St. Petersburg Juinor College, and was active in various civil liberties organizations in Pinellas County. In 1993, he helped found the Thomas Jefferson Society.

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are meeting right now at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., along with some of Clintonâs biggest fundraisers.

Itâs part of the reunifying of the Democratic Party â and in particular â the Obama and Clinton camps.

The St. Petersburg Times reported today that among those Clinton fundraisers that will meet with Obama tonight include Tampaâs Ana Cruz, one of the Clinton campaignâs biggest advocates in the region.